JESUS WITH NICODEMUS (C.1.Spring.7) Biblical Reference John 3:1-21 Key Verse John 3:11-15 Key Concept Salvation which leads to eternal life is a rebirth that takes place when I believe in Jesus Christ and he reigns in my life. Educational Objectives At the end of the class today, the children will be able to: 1. Tell who Nicodemus was and why he was confused 2. Explain God’s plan for salvation 3. Recognize God’s love Life Application John 3 is perhaps one of the most important chapters in the Bible. In this chapter Jesus makes know the plan that God has to save humanity. In this chapter we see the depth of God’s love for us. And God’s plan to serve and transform the whole world through the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross. Each person must decide what they will do with the information that Jesus gave to Nicodemus. The children will think about their own lives God’s love for them, the effects of sin, and the good news of salvation. Possible Activities and Class Plan Activity Materials Time My GROW Adventure GROW Adventure w/God 5 minutes materials Opening Prayer Candle 1 minute Bible exploration Worksheets, Information, 30 minutes Bibles, pens Creative Reflection Poem, acronym worksheets 10 minutes Dialogue Bibles, illustrations 20 minutes Reflection 5 minutes Conclusion Bible Verses 10 minutes My GROW Adventure Review 5 minutes Closing Prayer Candle 1 minute 1 | P a g e INSTRUCTIONS My GROW Adventure with God Weekly Review: As children enter take time to have them reflect on their adventure with God booklets and either discuss or use art materials to express their journey during the past week. You may wish to add any art work, written poems, prayers or songs to a GROW wall in the room. You can find my GROW Adventure with God materials on the Covchurch.org website in the same place as the Adventures with God sessions. Opening Prayer: Gather children around a candle. Light the candle and explain that we are entering into a special time with God. Encourage the children to hold their hands out in front of them palms up as a sign they are ready to receive what God has for them today. Prayer Example: Lord God, thank you for making us, for loving us, for forgiving us, and guiding us. We know you are here with us right now. As we enter into your word, the Bible, help us draw close to you, to understand and to listen to what you have to say to us. Amen (For safety sake, you may wish to extinguish the candle after the prayer) Bible Reading: Explain that as we read the Bible we do that first to spend time with God. Children can remain with hands out stretched palms up to receive the word as it’s being read. Alternatively they can be invited to draw what they hear. Read the key verse Bible passage for the day two times and ask children to respond. Question examples: What did you notice in this passage? How does it make you feel? Was there anything you would ask God about that you didn’t understand or was confusing? Is God saying anything to you though the story? Bible Exploration: Read John 3:1-21 again – Explain the background using the information sheet Nicodemus in the pages that follow. Work through the Nicodemus worksheet as a class or in small groups. Creative Reflection: Use the poem or acronym sheets that follow for creative reflection of the story. Dialogue: For children who have always been in the church, they might be familiar with the term “salvation” as it’s a term that is used a lot. But, even though they’ve heard it might not mean that they understand it. Many times unfortunately we use terms without really 2 | P a g e understanding what it means. What is the salvation that Jesus explained to Nicodemus? What did Jesus say about salvation? What didn’t he say? That is the focus of the dialogue today. Begin by telling the story of Nicodemus. Help them to think about how Nicodemus, an important man, felt when he went to see Jesus. What was his motive? How nervous must he have been thinking about the fact that his reputation was at risk among his peers if they knew he was talking with Jesus? Why did he go to talk to Jesus at night? What must he have felt to see Jesus? How did Jesus react at seeing him? Help them to “live” the story and see that many times Jesus used symbols that were familiar for his audience. What symbols did Jesus use when talking with Nicodemus? What symbols would he use today to express the same things about God’s salvation and “new life” that he explained to Nicodemus? Have illustrations ready to show them. Maybe they can think of others. Let them use their creativity. Before the dialogue is done, make sure they are all walking away with a clearer idea of what “salvation” and “new life” is all about. Help them think about their own lives and how they respond to what Jesus says. Use the “Salvation” sheet that follows. They want to experience “new life” in Christ? What would that look like? Reflection: Use one of the illustrations in the following pages. Ask students to write “what they think Jesus wants to say to them” on the illustration page. You read God’s part and have the students read “our part” together. Conclusion: Use the time to pray with children, if possible individually. Ask them if they want to pray and ask Jesus to give them new life and salvation that is a gift from God. Spend time singing if time permits. 3 | P a g e Today's GROW Adventure with God Review: G: God's Word: What is the story? (give children an opportunity to express their understanding of the story) R: Relationships: Is there anything in today's bible story that shows us how we should or shouldn't share God's love with others? (Remind children that sometimes God uses the stories of the bible to show us how we shouldn't act toward God or others and give them a chance to consider how we might show God's love instead) O: Outward Action: Is there anything in the bible story that shows us how we should help or serve God or others? (Explore concrete ways the children could live this out in the coming week) W: Worship: Is there anything in the bible story that shows us how we should accept God's love for us and others? Ask: How do you feel about God? How would you like to respond to God? What would you like to say to God? Closing Prayer: Gather children around the candle again. As you light the candle explain that the flame is something that is present in the light and the darkness. In the same way, it reminds us that God is always with us. Is there anything anyone wishes to say to God? After children have responded, close the prayer time. Prayer Example: Lord God, we thank you that you are always with us, and always love us. It’s good to be with you. Thank you for what we have learned today. Thank you for being with us and for teaching us through the Bible. Help us to remember what you have taught us today and to live it out when we leave. Amen 4 | P a g e INFORMATION SHEET Nicodemus Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a member of the Sanhedrin and he was a teacher of the law. 1. Pharisees a. They had to make vows in front of three witnesses that they would follow the law and not break it. b. They were very concerned with purity and following the law. But, because some of the laws that were found in the Torah were not very clear, they made a book of rules to help people follow the laws given by Moses. For example, “Keep the Sabbath day and make it holy as the Lord your God has commanded,” was clarified with more laws about what it meant to “keep the Sabbath.” Instead of helping people, it just became more of a burden. Example – they couldn’t look in a mirror on the Sabbath because it was considered work. c. The Pharisees identified holiness with things and external actions – the meat they ate and what they drank. But Jesus emphasized other things. For Jesus, holiness had to do with a person’s heart, a heart at peace with God. It wasn’t just about external actions, but our heart needs to be cleaned as well. Jesus’ message was radical. 2. So, one night a Pharisee came to talk with Jesus. a. We have to remember that Jesus had preformed the miracle in Cana and that the news had traveled to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and expelled the people who were selling inside and abusing the house of God. b. Nicodemus had heard about Jesus. We can almost imagine what Nicodemus is saying “I just want to see who this guy is. But, what if one of my friends or neighbors sees me?” c. So Nicodemus came to the house where Jesus was staying and they probably went up to the roof so they could talk in private. There was probably some awkward silence, Jesus waiting for Nicodemus to start and Nicodemus not 5 | P a g e knowing where to start.